Chiefs Aim For Simplicity
Perry Ganchar is aware of the anemic numbers. He also knows that that three games into a long season they’re not terribly illuminating.
Tyler MacKay is a better goaltender than his .775 saves percentage suggests.
Brandin Cote in three games has yet to make it onto the scoresheet.
He will.
Tim Smith is on an early pace to score 48 points, half of what he did last year.
Cote and Lynn Loyns are minus-5 in the plus/minus category, meaning the Spokane Chiefs have surrendered five more goals than they’ve scored with two of the Western Hockey League West’s more active defensive forwards on the ice.
That’ll improve just as the numbers right now get even worse.
Smith, Ryan Thorpe and Chris Heid are all minus-7.
The Chiefs’ penalty kill is sub-average. So is their record, 1-2.
They’re working hard to turn that around. Too hard, maybe.
Some are clearly trying to do too much, holding onto the puck a beat or two too long or otherwise trying to put too fine a point on their creativity.
Ganchar came on in August calling for more offense. He didn’t intend to turn the adjustments into exotic math.
So when the Chiefs take on the Portland Winter Hawks on Friday night in the Arena, the emphasis will be on simplicity and puck movement, in transition and on the attack.
“We’ve got to start sharing the puck,” Ganchar said after Wednesday’s practice. “We don’t need the great pass through guys. We just need to keep it simple back there. Get it and move it up.
“If it’s a hard rim, get it to our forwards and let our forwards battle and do their thing.”
The Chiefs will try to get even with the Tri-City Americans on Saturday night in Kennewick.
The key both nights?
“Puck movement,” Ganchar repeated. “No question in my mind that we can get better. We just haven’t shot enough. We get in areas to shoot and we want to make that great pass.
“Nine times out of 10, the fancy pass will hit a skate or a stick and won’t get through. That’s what we’re stressing. If the shot’s not there, make the pass. I’m not trying to re-invent the game, I’m just trying to reinforce situations where they can create scoring opportunities.
“Get an ugly goal. Big deal. It looks like you went coast-to-coast the next day in the paper.”
Notes
The Chiefs had Roman Tvrdon and Ratislav Lipka back for Wednesday’s practice after the two import players completed immigration paperwork in Vancouver and Seattle this week… . David Boychuk’s play in Friday night’s win over Seattle was strong. “One thing about defensemen,” Ganchar said. “When they’re at their best, you probably don’t notice them. Chuck was plus-two or plus-three and in on a goal. That’s the kind of game we need from him.” … The photograph in the paper Saturday of Spokane rookie Jevon Desautels unloading on Seattle 20-year-old Shon Jones-Parry suggests that Spokane may be tougher than previously feared. “That was a great job by Jevon, who certainly held his own,” Ganchar said. “That’s going to be part of his package as he matures. For a 16-year-old to step up and do the job he did there was good to see.” … The Chiefs, like it or not, will probably have to prove they can take care of the tough stuff after the roughing up they got on opening night from Tri-City… . “We need to be team tough,” Ganchar said. “We also feel we have other ways we can intimidate. Our speed. Our forecheck. Our hard work. Those can be intimidating factors, too.”
Around the WHL …
The trade deadline is Jan. 15, a week later than last season… WHL clubs must get down to the maximum three 20-year-olds by Nov. 1. One of the interesting logjams of overage players is in Kamloops, where 6-6 defenseman Chad Starling, a St. Louis Blues draft pick, appears to be the odd man out. … The Kelowna Rockets dealt veteran Vern Fiddler to Medicine Hat this week… . Goaltenders have feelings, too. After getting raked on Saturday night, Prince George Cougars goalie Marty Morris decided to quit the team on Monday.